SAP Project Manager

SAP Project Manager

Start Date : ASAP

Location : Parsippany, NJ OR San Diego, CA (On-site 3 days per week)

Duration : Through 2026 (Contract)

Travel : Occasional travel to San Diego office (all expenses covered)

Industry : Pharmaceutical / Life Sciences

Overview

Our client, a mid-size pharmaceutical company, is embarking on a Greenfield S / 4HANA implementation and is seeking an experienced SAP Project Manager to lead the program. This consultant will serve as the client-side advocate , working alongside the system implementation partner to ensure delivery success. The role is best suited for a professional who has successfully led one or two SAP implementations but is not operating at the senior executive tier.

The Project Manager must bring a strong background in life sciences , ideally with small to mid-size pharmaceutical companies, where compliance, validation, and regulatory processes (e.g., GxP ) are critical. This individual will be embedded on-site in Parsippany, NJ three days per week , with occasional travel to the client's San Diego office fully covered.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership : Manage all phases of the Greenfield S / 4HANA implementation, ensuring scope, schedule, budget, and quality objectives are met.

Client-Side Oversight : Act as the company's dedicated representative ("their own guy"), overseeing the system integrator's work and ensuring alignment with client goals.

Stakeholder Engagement : Partner with business leaders, IT stakeholders, and external consultants to define requirements and deliverables.

Governance & Compliance : Ensure strict adherence to pharmaceutical industry regulations and GxP validation requirements .

Risk & Issue Management : Anticipate and resolve risks or issues that could impact project success.

Vendor & Partner Management : Coordinate with third-party vendors and ensure accountability of all project participants.

Communication & Reporting : Maintain clear, consistent communication and project reporting for leadership and stakeholders.

Change & Training Support : Support organizational change and knowledge transfer to drive adoption.

Required Skills & Experience

SAP Implementation Expertise : Proven track record of leading at least one to two SAP implementations ; Greenfield S / 4HANA experience strongly preferred.

Life Sciences Experience : Background in pharma or biotech, ideally with small to mid-size pharma organizations rather than large enterprise pharma.

Compliance & Validation : In-depth knowledge of GxP, FDA, and EMA compliance requirements relevant to SAP projects.

Leadership & Communication : Strong leadership, stakeholder management, and documentation skills.

Project Methodologies : Familiarity with SAP Activate, ASAP, or hybrid project delivery approaches.